BPOV
I walked out of the room as calmly as I could and closed the door quietly. As soon as it was shut I was off running, the tears falling freely down my cheeks. I had to get out of this house. I was out the back door and running to Edward's piano house before I even realised where I was escaping too. At least no-one but Edward would come here and he was probably still entertaining the new gorgeous neighbours. I opened the door and closed it quickly before I collapsed on the couch, curled in a ball. I closed my eyes and let the tears flow uninhibited as sobs began to rack my body.
"Bella?" I heard Edward's soothing voice echo. My eyes opened cautiously. In a matter of seconds he was in front of me, wiping and kissing away my tears. His hand slowly stroked my cheek before cupping my face.
"My love" He stated quietly. His lips connected with mine as he reached up and pulled me down from the couch into his arms. When the kiss ended I curled up in his chest with his arms wrapped tightly around me. It was so comforting just simply being in his arms.
"Thankyou" I murmured after sitting in calm silence for a while.
"For what my Bella?" Edward breathed against my neck his fingers lightly running up and down my sides.
"For coming after me" I shrugged half heartedly. His fingers froze.
"Why wouldn't I come after you?" He whispered placing a kiss underneath my ear. Well I thought it was pretty obvious...pretty being the key word, in fact there had been three servings of pretty, one serving of handsome and a whole lot of rich and powerful thrown in there. I had at least thought he would have taken the time to entertain our new neighbours before running after me.
"Bella? Why wouldn't I have come after you?" Edward shifted away slightly tilting my face up so he could see my eyes...that would probably tell him everything he needed to know. Yep, his eyes instantly melted to a liquid emerald as he found whatever it was he was looking for. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine before placing and extremely tender kiss on my lips.
"Why wouldn't I come after my fiancé, the woman I love with all my heart and soul, whom I can barely resist touching for a few minutes let alone be in a different room from?" He demanded quietly, his lips brushing mine as he spoke.
"I thought you would want to stay and entertain your guests" I mumbled.
"Our guests love, and no, you're much more important than them. They had just insulted you, they didn't deserve my courtesy. I love you, I've missed you, and I can't stand to be away from you. This summer is supposed to be about you and me spending time together and with our family." Edward insisted avidly.
"But..." Edward's lips silenced mine again.
"But nothing love. You're my fiancé, we're engaged. That gives us a right to spend every second we want together, and I do want to spend every second with you." He whispered his lips caressing mine once more. The kiss was soft and gentle, calming and reassuring.
"And nothing that horrible girl said was true my Bella. You are so intelligent. Your beauty outshines theirs by a mile. You are so very gorgeous, sexy, wonderful" Edward stated forcefully with kisses punctuating his points.
"I love you Edward" I murmured. He smiled.
"I love you too Bella" We fell into a comfortable silence; my head was resting on his shoulder, his fingers were tracing my body. He was humming one of his beautiful melodies. Every few minutes he would pause, lean down and place a kiss on my lips. I wished we could stay like this forever.
EPOV
I knew we should go in soon. The others would start to worry about us once they got rid of the guests. But I really didn't want to. Bella was finally calm and relaxed and I loved having her curled up in my arms. I couldn't wait to have her back in my arms tonight...I had missed her and could hardy sleep when she wasn't...
"Bella?" I questioned.
"Mmmmm" She was almost asleep in my arms now.
"I'm going to carry you inside, ok love?" I whispered. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was almost evened out.
"Ok Edward" She sighed, snuggling her head into my chest. God, she's so adorable, and she's mine. I stood up and kept her nestled against me and made my way back to the house.
Slipping quietly inside the house, I made my way towards the stairs.
"EDWARD!" Alice screeched. I froze and threw a glare at her. She better not have woken Bella up. My gaze fell to my love. She made a noise of unhappiness and burrowed into me more. I dropped a kiss on her head then met Alice's gaze. She was in a bad mood.
"Yes" I replied curtly and quietly, continuing on my way up the stair case.
"I have a bone to pick with Bella!" She exclaimed loudly. I halted and stared at Bella again. She groaned and mumbled something unintelligible.
"Alice. I have had enough. Bella has been through emotional hell today. Leave us alone. No-one is going to berate her anymore. Whatever it is you can speak with her in the morning, but if I hear that you were condescending or rude or obnoxious towards her in any way, you won't be invited back here again" I spoke quietly but coldly. My tone brooked for no argument. "Goodnight" I muttered, turning my back on her and climbing the last section of steps. I entered our bedroom and laid Bella gently on the bed. I kissed her forehead.
"My love" I whispered and left her, shutting the door quietly behind me.
"Well then I've got a bone to pick with you!" Alice was suddenly at my elbow.
"Then I suggest you speak very quickly because as soon as I grab something from the kitchen, I'm going to bed." I snapped as I walked briskly down the stairs.
"Do you know what Bella did?! I cannot believe her! She didn't even ask me she just jumped straight in and could have wrecked everything!" I felt my anger bubble and snapped my attention to Alice's face.
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about" I growled, pushing my way through the kitchen doors. I paused briefly when I discovered everyone else in there silently staring at me.
"Bella has been sending my sketch pads off and having my creations modelled in New York, Paris and Milan!" Alice screeched. I glared at her. I don't see the problem.
"The problem?" I demanded. Bella had shown me what she had done for Alice...it was unbelievably amazing. I reached into the fridge and pulled out two chicken Caesar salads. That would have to do if Bella woke up hungry. I glanced through the fridge again and hit the jackpot...apple pie. I pulled it out and cut two large slices.
"The problem is that she didn't ask me! She could have put different seasons together or wrong colours or anything! I have no idea because she didn't include me in my own future!" Alice was screaming at me. Better me than at Bella. I snapped. Slamming down the food I had prepared I exited the kitchen quickly and out the front door, heading towards my Volvo. I snagged a small business brief from the backseat and returned inside. Everyone was still silent in the kitchen when I entered.
"You say a word to Bella about this or use that tone with her and I will throw you out myself. She has worked extremely hard, since she found out you sketched, to put you on the top of the market. It was supposed to be your birthday present, but I guess that's wrecked that. Bella is much more capable than you think Alice. She's incredibly intelligent and just because she dresses one way doesn't mean she doesn't understand another style! Pull your head out of your ass. You should be thanking Bella!" I growled. I think Amanda's eyes pooped out of her head. I walked over to her and gave her a hug and a kiss.
"I'm sorry I didn't get to spend much time with you today angel. Tomorrow both Bella and I will, I promise." I kissed her head. I walked back over to the food I had collected and then exited the kitchen.
"Edward wait!" Amanda cried softly. I stopped and waited for her. "Can I walk with you up stairs?" She requested shyly. I smiled and handed her a salad and a plate of pie.
"Only if you do me a big favour and carry Bella's dinner" She nodded vigorously. We started on the stairs, me going much slower than usual to extend the time with Amanda.
"I don't like it when Bella's sad" Amanda admitted quietly.
"Me neither, it makes me sad too" I responded.
"Are you going to make her happy again?" She wondered.
"I'm going to try my very hardest to do so, yes" I answered.
"You should let her have a baby; that made her sad...and Alice is making her sad too isn't she?" I faltered in my steps. I hadn't asked Bella if she has actually wanted to have a baby...I just told her she was going to...damn it...and as for Alice...
"Alice hasn't made Bella sad yet sweetheart" I murmured as we reached the landing.
"But Bella will be sad when you tell her that Alice didn't like her present" Amanda muttered. I sighed. My poor Bella had been working extremely hard for Alice, most of the time she had phone calls at random times throughout the middle of the night, I think she put as much work into it as she had her schooling.
"And Bella doesn't look as happy now with you...what did you do to make her sad?" She questioned curiously. I flinched, everyone but me could tell I had upset my love...that isn't the way it should be.
"I'm fixing it, that's all that matters angel. I'm going to bed now, sweetie, I'll spend tomorrow with you, ok?" I asked quietly as I paused outside my bedroom door. She handed me back the food then wrapped her arms around my legs.
"Can you make Bella happy first? You're so grumpy when she's sad, please?" She whispered with tears in her eyes. I leant down and kissed her forehead.
"I'll do my best. I love you Amanda, goodnight" I answered. She squeezed my legs tight for a minute but didn't release me.
"C'mon Amanda, Edward needs to go to bed" Esme spoke gently. I looked up and met her worried gaze. She gave me a weak smile and drew Amanda away from me and gave her a little push in the direction of the stairs.
"Night Eddie" Amanda waved as she walked down the hall. I smiled briefly.
"Edward, come talk to me for a minute" Esme requested. My eyes flickered towards the door...what about Bella? I wanted to make up for lost time.
"Just for a minute, she'll be fine" Esme calmed and placed a hand on my shoulder and steered me towards my study. She pushed me into a chair and sat across from me.
"What did you wish to discuss?" I wondered.
"Alice is downstairs crying because she feels so terrible about what she said to you about Bella. She thinks what Bella has done for her is absolutely amazing, as do we all. I still can't figure out how Bella found the time to do it while studying full time." Esme gave me a warm smile. "The portfolio is amazing, as are the awards and such Alice has received. Alice said that some of the pieces have been modified and look better than before...did Bella do that, I mean, make the final decisions and such?" Esme gazed curiously at me.
"Yes. Bella managed everything; she didn't want anything to go wrong or upset Alice in any way. Too bad Alice blew her surprise..." I answered. Bella was going to be so upset.
"And what is wrong with Bella, besides the neighbour fiasco...why is she so sad?" See, everyone except me could see it!
"I did something that, upset...hurt...grieved her and I didn't realise until this afternoon" I replied bitterly.
"What did you do to that girl Edward Anthony Masen? She has so much love for you, anyone can see it. What could you have possibly done to upset her?" She looked completely baffled. I cleared my throat nervously. This wasn't really a conversation I wanted to have with my Aunt, as much as I loved her.
"I...um...I" I frowned. How was I supposed to explain?
"Relax Edward, you know you can always tell me anything. I won't ever judge you, no matter what you've done" She placed a comforting hand on my knee. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"I wouldn't be intimate with her, and the way I told her made it sound like I didn't want her. I do want her, I just...she, I...I hurt her, I never meant to cause my love pain" I sighed remorsefully.
"You haven't been together yet!?" She sounded so shocked. I stared back blankly.
"But you're both so close and so physical with each other...I thought you've...well, since before you brought her here after the Ball...I, wow. May I ask why?" Esme frowned. This was embarrassing.
"I didn't want to rush anything, I don't want to do anything that might push her away from me...I just...I" Damn this was frustrating.
"Edward, she loves you and you love her. You're engaged. I'm not encouraging you to do anything, but it is fine if you do too. If it's something you both want, you won't push her away. You just need to communicate with her Edward. Tell her what you feel and why, tell her what you're thinking. She loves you Edward, more than anyone ever could. You should be able to trust her with anything, just as she trusts you, or she did before you broke it by simply saying no and not explaining your thoughts behind your decision or including her in the decision making process." I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times. She was right...about everything.
"Thank you Esme" I murmured. She smiled and stood and patted me on the cheek before leaving. I stood slowly and made my way back to Bella. I slipped into the room silently and found her exactly where I had left her. I put our dinner down on the table and walked over to the bed. My beautiful love. Brushing a lock of hair out of her face, I leaned down and placed a delicate kiss on her lips. She mumbled my name in response and sighed. God, how precious she is.
